Apples grow on trees? Who knew?
If you haven’t gone apple picking yet, you can still get your apple fix on until well into the fall. And with the cool, crisp weather finally here, it’s starting to truly feel like apple-munching time. New Jersey has no shortage of farms to pick apples at and you can usually take home more pommes than you could eat in a lifetime. So bring on the apple sauce!
This year, we’re heading over to Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick, NJ. The 300-year-old farm (yes, you read that right, 300 years old!) has two other locations, in Califon and Bridgwater, but we know about the Oldwick locale. The farm doesn’t charge an entry fee for picking, which I think is just grand. A lot of the farms around here charge you for the privilege of picking their fruit, which just seems wrong. Melick’s charges by the bag.
They have a free hayride on the weekends to rest your weary legs and take you to and from the orchards. TT mama Wendy went last year with a three-year-old and a newborn in tow. They brought along a stroller for the baby and walked the entire time. There were plenty of trees with enough low-hanging fruit for their toddler to grab till his heart’s delight. The farm market sells prepared items too like jams, jellies, pies and ciders. Another perk of the Oldwick location is the Cider Mill where you get to watch them make fresh cider. Yum!
Right now, you can pick Macouns, Empire, Golden and Red Delicious and Jonagold at the Oldwick location.
If you’re feeling in the mood for some theater while you pick, head over to the Califon location. Strange Fruit, a theater troupe from Australia, will be performing The Three Belles, which is a fusion of theater, dance and circus performance. If you go, tell TT what you think of it, we’re dying to know. The free performances will be at 11 am and 2 pm. They’ll also be offering a horse-drawn wagon from 11 to 3. Another perk at the Califon location: you can pick your own pumpkin while you’re there, which would definitely kill two birds with one stone.
There’s no pick-your-own apples in Bridgewater.
What: Melick’s Town Farm Where: Cider Mill and Orchard, 19 King StreetOldwick, NJ Califon Farm Market and Orchard, 472 County Road 513
Califon, NJ Bridgewater Farm Market, 351 Route 28
Bridgewater, NJ What times: Daily, 10 to 6 at Oldwick; Daily, 10 to 6 at Bridgewater; Daily, 9 to 6 at Califon, horse-drawn wagon on the weekend from 11 to 3 and live performance, Saturday, 11 and 2 How much: No admission fee. Pay for what you pick
30. September 2011 at 5:02 pm
We went there in 2010 and it was fabulous! There was a huge playground on the property as well, so there is more to do than just apple-pick. Other (more prepared) families brought picnics and were able to spread out on the grass. Good times ;) !
14. October 2011 at 12:47 pm
Thanks for the excellent recommendation TT! Went to Melicks last weekend with our 2.5 yr old twin girls who loved every moment of their adventure. From our picnic lunch, to the hayride into the orchard to being able to just walk around and pick apples off the low branches of the dwarf trees…it was a perfect day! They were super excited for mommy to shine their fresh picked apples on her sleeve and couldn’t wait to get a bite–don’t think I’ve ever seen them eat so much fruit in one sitting before. We stocked up on delicious Empires and cider. Yum!